Installing PhotonVision - team1731/FRC2023 GitHub Wiki

This page documents the procedures for getting PhotonVision up and running using a co-processor model running Ubuntu. This arrangement has been selected so that we can handle multiple cameras simultaneously. For the 2023 season, we are using a MiniPC with a partitioned drive and installing Ubuntu 22.04 (LTS version and standard for FRC 2023).

Installing Ubuntu

  1. Partition sizing
  • Size the main Windows partition to make room for the Ubuntu install using DiskManager
  • Don't create a partition for Ubuntu. Let Ubuntu's installation process do this for you.
  • If you are re-installing Ubuntu, use Windows DiskManager to clean away the partitions created by the previous install. Make sure you don't delete the main Windows partition, the recovery partition, or the EFI System partition.
  • You can access Windows Disk Management by right-clicking on "This PC" to open the computer management console.
  1. Prepare a bootable USB drive
  • Download the .iso image file for the Ubuntu LTS release (22.04)
  • You will also need to download software to create the bootable drive. The Ubuntu docs recommend Rufus if you are working on Windows or balenaEtcher if you are working on a Mac.
  • Before burning the image, if necessary, reformat the USB drive to FAT32.
  • Review the Ubuntu documentation for creating a bootable USB. You will use a different process depending on whether you are creating the drive from Windows or Mac.
  1. Run the Ubuntu installation process
  • Insert the bootable USB drive with the Ubuntu image, and start the MiniPC.
  • The MiniPC should boot using the USB drive, but if it does not, you can restart and enter BIOS to change the boot order.
  • To enter BIOS use the delete key
  • Then change the boot order so that the bootable USB drive is in the first position, and then select "Save and Exit"
  • It takes a bit when you are booting from the USB for the installation process to start, so be patient.
  • Use these settings during the install process, otherwise you should be accepting the defaults:
  • On the "Updates and other software" screen, select the option to install 3rd party software for graphics and wifi hardware
  • When partition options display, select the option to install Ubuntu alongside Windows Boot Manager
  • For "Name" use "Team 1731"
  • For "Computer Name" use "photon"
  • For "Username" use "team1731" with the standard Team 1731 farm-themed password
  • When the process ends, you will need to reboot, and upon rebooting, you will be prompted to remove the bootable drive and hit Enter.
  • You are essentially done at this point. The boot process should now have Ubuntu in the first boot position, with Windows Boot Manager as another option.
  • After the OS loads, make sure to change the power settings so that the PC never drops to a blank screen or suspends to save power. This will interfere with PhotonVision.

Installing PhotonVision

  1. Read the PhotonVision docs for a Debian-based co-processor installation
  2. Run the installation
  • Open up a Terminal instance
  • Run the commands listed in the docs to: download the install.sh file and make it executable, run it, and reboot the system.
  1. Verifying the installation
  • After running the installation process and rebooting, you should be able to load the PhotonVision web dashboard at http://localhost:5800

Configuring PhotonVision

TBD